Semaphore-signal mechanism.



G. REKERS.

SEMAPHORE SIGNAL MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20 19l6 1,297,969. Q Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

c; S 2 snzms-snzn 1.

IN VE N TOR m: numns "we" m.. rnarouruu, wAsnwmnn. n. c.

G. REKERS SEMAPHORESIGNAL MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20.1916.

Patented Mar. '18, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN VE IV TOR 1n: uonRls PEYERS ca. Pnawumm. wnmuamn. ac

1,297,969. Continuation of application filed April 21, 1913, Serial N 0. 762,570. N ow STATES PATEN OFFICE.

GERRET REKERS, oE ROCHESTER, NEW YORK," Assiornoit T0 GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF GATES, NEW'YO RK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

. SEMAPHORE-SIGNAL MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent No. 1,272,099, July 9, 1918.

This application. filed July 20, 1916. Serial No. 110,312.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GERRET Burns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Rochester, inthe county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Semaphore-Signal Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of devices which are employed in railway signaling and which are ordinaipily termed semaphore operating mechanisms.

This application is a continuation of my prior application Serial No. 762,570, filed April 21, 1913.

The primary object ofthis'invention is to design and construct a mechanism for operating a semaphore, such that the semaphore will be moved from a biased to an operated a position by the operation of any well known form of rotary motor through the intermediary of reduction gearing, but in which the semaphore may-be allowed to, fall to its biased position without being obliged to rotate the reduction gearing.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention progresses, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, wherein I have illustrated a preferred physical embodiment of my invention, and

wherein like characters of reference desig nate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is an end view of a semaphore I operating mechanism embodying this invention with the cover of the main casing and the cover of the gear casing removed; Fig.

2 is a longitudinal section throughthe semaphore operating mechanism shown in Fig. 1, said section being. taken substantially on the line 22 in Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows a; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line in Fig. 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 0; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing a semaphore operating mechanism embodying the invention together with an arrangement of controlling circuits suitable for governing the operation of said mechanism.

Referring to the accompanying drawing thereference character A designates generally a main casing for supporting and housing the parts of the semaphore operating mechanism, and one end of this casing A is open and is adapted to be closed by a cover 5 fastened thereto by screws 6, a basket 7 being interposed between said cover and the edges of said casing so as to form a weather tight joint. In effect the casing A consists of two parts or chambers, one of these chambers having a cross section of the shape shown in Fig. 1 and containing the operating gearing and hold clear device, and the other of said chambers being substantially circular in cross section and containing the operating motor. A shaft 8, to which a semaphore 9 of any suitable or well known construction is connected, is journaled in anti-friction bearings 10 secured in one end of the casing A and in the cover 5, respectively; and fixed to this semaphore shaft 8 are two sleeves or collars 11 and 12 which constitute bearing supports for a hollow shaft 13 arranged concentrically with said shaft 8. The motor for operating the semaphore mechanism may be of any suitable or well known construction but according to the embodiment of the invention illustrated this motor is of the series alternating current type and in general comprises a magnetic stator member 14, which is fixed to two annular lugs or ribs 15 integral with the casing A and which is provided with a suitable winding 16 and a rotor 17 having a commutator 18. The rotor 17 of the motor is fixed to one end of the hollow shaft 13 and integral with or'securedv to the other end of said shaft is a gear 19.

a gear casing 20 of a general cylindrical form having a removable cover 21 secured thereto by screws 22 i mounted on the semaphore shaft 8 and the motor shaft 13 so as to be able to turn thereon. A ratchet wheel 23. (see Fig. 3) is keyed or otherwise fastened to the motor shaft 13, and pivotally attached to an end wall of the gear casing 20 is a pawl 24 which is pressed by a spring 25 into engagement with the teeth of said ratchet wheel. Disposed within the gear casing 20 and fastened to the end wall thereof are three equally spaced bearing studs 26 on each of which are j ournaled two gears 27 and28 of different sizes which are Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

integral or connected together, the larger gears 28 being in mesh with the gear 19 secured to the motor shaft 13. Loosely mounted on the semaphore shaft 8 is a gear 29 which meshes with the smaller gears 27 carried by the gear casing 20, and pivotally connected to the gear 29 is a pawl 30 (see Fig. 1) which i pressed by a spring 31 into engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 32 keyed or otherwise fastened-to the semaphore shaft 8.

A suitable electrically operable device is provided for holding the gear casing 20 against rotation, and inthe particular embodiment of the invention illustrated this device is of the type shown and described in the patent to O. A. Ross, 1,165,362, Dec. 21, 1915, and comprises in general a pair of solenoids 33, only one of which being shown, which are supported in a frame 34: fastened by screws 35 to the main casing A, a core 36 adapted to be raised when said solenoids are energized, a spring box 37 secured to said core, a lever 38, pivotally connected-at one end to said spring boX and pivotally mount-- edat its other end on a stud 39 fixed to the main casing A, a detent arm 40 journaled at one end on a stud a1 fixed to the main casing A and adjustably connected at its other end to the lever 38, a dog 42 carried by the detent arm 40, and a balancing spring 43 which is fixed'at one end to the main casing A and which is connected at its other end to a link M connected to an arm 45 integral with the lever 38. The dog a2 has a squared end which is adapted to engage between any two of a number of teeth a6 formed on the outer circumferential face of the gear casing 20.

In Fig. i of the drawing there are shown diagrammatically the parts of the semaphore operating mechanism hereinbeiore described, together with a circuit controller K of any suitable or well known construction, such as, for instance, as shown and described in the patent to W. K. 'Howe, 1,056,992, March 25, 1913, and an arrangement of controlling circuits suitable for governing the operation of the semaphore mechanism. In tnis diagrammatic illustration in Fig. i the parts have been s1 i'read apart to more clearly show their relative positions and arrange ment, and the hold clear device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and hereinbeiiore described has been replaced by a simpler construction consisting of a solenoid the core %9 of which is adapted to enter between any two of the teeth 46 on the gear casing 20 so as to perform the same function as the dog i2 shown in F i s. 1 and 2. In Fig. 1 the reference character T designates a transformer for supplying electric energy for operating the semaphore mechanism, and the circuit con-' trollers which are usually in practice operated by relays or the like are shown for sunplicity as switches 50 and 51. The circuit controller K shown. in Fig. & comprisesin general a drum at? of insulating material fixed to the semaphore 'shaft'8 and provided 'ith a number of contact strips, as 68, T5, and .59 fastened thereto and a number of contact fingers, as 67, 74, T9 and 58, supported on suitable insulating supports and arranged in position to cooperate with said contact strips.

Operation: The parts of a semaphore mechanism are shown in Fig.4 in the. positionwhich they assume when the semaphore 9 has been moved .to its vertical or position and is being held in that positionfand with the parts in this position, the'solenoid 48 or" the hold clear device is'energized by a circuit whichmaybe traced as follows: Commencing at one terminal of "the secondary of the transformer T,condu'ctor 53, switch 51 closed, conductors 54 and 55, switch 50 closed, 'conductors'56 and 57, contact finger 58, contact strip-59, contact finger 60, conductors-61 and 62, solenoid 48, and conductors '63 and 6% back to the other ter minal of said secondary.

Theseinaphore 9 is biased by its weight to turn the semaphore shaft 8 in the counterclockwise direction, asviewedfin Figs; 1 and 4e; and consequentlythe ratchet wheel 32' which is keyed to sa'idsemaphore shaftalso tends to turn in the counterclockwise direction. The ratchet wheel 32 tends to drive the pawl 30 and turn the gear 29 in the counterclockwise direction, and the"gea r- 29 in turn tends to rotate thegears27 and'28 in the clockwise direction, The gears 'QS'being in mesh with the gear 19 t'e'n'dto rotates'aid gear 19 in the counterclockwise direction, whichtends to turn the motor shaft 13 in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. at, and in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3; and the ratchet wheel 23 being keyedto the motor shaft 13 tends to drive the pawl 2% (see Fig. 3) and-rotate the gear casing 20 in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3 and in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. at. The solenoid l8 being energized by currentfiowing in the circuit above traced, the core 49' of said solenoid is raised into engagement with the teeth 46 on the gear ca'sin'g'20, so that the above mentioned tendency of the'gear casing :20 to rotate is overcome and consequently the parts of the semaphore mechanism are held in the position shown in Fig. 4cwith the semaphore in its vertical or 90 position. The direction of the tendency of the several parts to move as above described is indicated in Fig. 1 by the arrows in full lines. 7

With the semaphore 9 in its vertical position, it both of the switches 50 and 51 are opened, current is cut off from the solenoid 48, thereby releasing the gear casing 20 and permitting it, the gears 27 and 28 carried thereby, the motor shaft 13, and the semaphore shaft ,8 to rotate as a whole in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, in response to the bias of the semaphore 9, until the semaphore reaches its biased position where its momentum may be checked by any suitable means, as for example, by the means shown'and described in my application Serial No. 110,313 filed July 20th, 1916. It should be noted that during this movement of the semaphore from its vertical or 90 operated position to its biased position, there is no relative movement of the separate gears of the reduction gearing.

It is common practice to provide a stop or similar device, such as the bracket and rubber buffer 100 shown in Fig. 2, for arresting the movement of the semaphore in its horizontal or danger posit-ion, and such a stop acts to bring the semaphore and the parts rigidly connected thereto to a complete and rather sudden stop; and in order to avoid any objectionable shock by so quickly arresting the movement of the gearing and the rotor of the motor, the pawl 30 and the ratchet wheel 32 are provided so that, when the semaphore 9 and the semaphore shaft 8 are stopped suddenly while they as well as the gear casing 20, the Several gears carried thereby and the rotor of the motor are rotated in the counterclock- .wise direction by the movement of the semaphore to'its horizontal biased position, the gear casing20, the several gears carried thereby, and the rotor of the motor may continue their movement and be gradually brought to a stop .by friction.

As the semaphore 9 moves to its hori,

zontal biased position, as above described, the drum 47 of the circuit controller K is rotated with a semaphore shaft 8 in the counterclockwise direction, and the arrangement of parts is such that when the somaphore 9 reaches its horizontal position, the contact strip 68 is moved into position to bridge the contact fingers 67 and 69, and likewise the contact strip 75is moved into position to bridge the contact fingers 74 and 76. I

If the switch 51 is now closed, a circuit for supplying current to the operating motor is established as follows: commencing at the one terminal of the secondary of the transformer T, conductor 53, switch 51 closed, conductors 54, and 66, contact finger 67, contact strip '68, contact finger 69, conductors and. 71 through the stator winding and rotor winding of the motor, and conductors 72 and 64 back to the other terminal of said secondary.

' At the same time that current is supplied 7 to the operating motor, a circuit is established for energizing the hold clear device,which may be traced as follows: commencing at one terminal of the secondary When the operating motor is supplied with current it drives the motor shaft 13 in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, and in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3; and since the gear 19 is integral with the motor shaft 13, said gear is also driven in the same direction. Re-

ferring particularly to Fig. 3, it can be seen that this rotation of the motor shaft 13 in the counterclockwise direction is such that the pawl 24 may move idly over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 23, so that the gear casing 20 is not turned when the motor shaft is rotated in this direction. The gear 19 being driven in the clockwise direction (see Fig. 4) rotates the gears 28 and 27 to gether in the counterclockwise direction, thereby rotating the gear 29in the clockwise direction, and the gear 29 in turn drives the semaphore shaft 8 by means of the pawl 30 and the ratchet wheel 32 in the clockwise direction to move the semaphore 9 from its horizontal biased position toward its vertical position. The direction of rotation of the several parts during this movement of the semaphore is indicatedby the dotted arrows in F ig. 4.

The length of the contact strip 68 included in the circuit for supplying current a to the operating motor is such that when the semaphore 9 reaches a diagonal or 45 operated position, commonly used to indicate caution, this contact strip ceases tov bridge the contact fingers 67 and 69, thereby interrupting the motor operating circuit; but the contact strip 75 is made a little longer than the contact strip 68 so that it still bridges'the contact fingers 74 and 76 and maintains the circuit for energizing the hold clear device closed. When the supply of current to the operating motor is cut off, the semaphore 9 soon comes to rest, although it may continue to move for a short distance farther due to the momentum of the parts; but after the semaphore 9 has come to restand tends tomove backward due to its bias, the pawl 24 engages one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 23, and since the hold clear device is still energized, the semaphore 9 is held in the 45 or diagonal operated position in the same way: and for the same reasons hereinbefore' explained in describing how the semaphore 9 is held in its verticalpr 90 operated position.

The contact strip 80 is made of such length and is so located on the drum 47 that when the semaphore 9 is in its diagonal or 45. operated position, this contact "nalof the's'e'conda-ry of the transformer T,

conductor 53, switch 51 closed, conductors Iiianel 55, switch 50 closed, conductors 56' and 78, contact finger 79, contact strip 80, contact fin'ger 81, conductors 82 and -'71 through the windings-of the stator and rotor of the operatingmotor, and conductors 72 and "Get back to the other terminal of said secondary.

The solenoid 480i the hold clear device is alsoenergized at this time by a circuit which "is the same as the circuit already traced and described as used for holding the semaphorein its vertical or 90 operated position. 'With the operating motor supplied with current'and' the gear casing 20 held againstrotation by the energization of the''hold clear device, the semaphore 9 is moved from its operate-d position to its 90 operated position; and when the seinapl'iore "reaches the latter position the contactstrip 80 ismovedout of contact with thecontact-fingers 79 and 81, while the contact strip 59 remains in contact with the contact fingers 58 and 60,so that the circuit for supplying'current to theoperating'anotor is interrupted and the circuit for energizing the hold'clear device is maintained, and the semaphore9 is held in its 90 operated position.

If the *swrtches 50 and 51 are simultaneously closed when 'the'semaphore is in its horizontal biased position, the various op eratingand holding circuits hereinbetore traced'and described will be established in immediate sequence, so that the semaphore is operatedcontinuously to its vertical or 90 operated position. when both of the switches 51 and 50 are closed and the semaphore is inits Vertical or 90 operated posi tion, it the switch 50 is opened while the switch-51 remains closed, the semaphore will move in'response 'to its bias to its 15 operated position, whereupon its movement will be arrested and it will be held in that position by the energization of the hold clear "device. Thus it will be apparent to those skilled in the'art that by the proper op'eningand closing of the switches 50 and 51 the semaphore 9 may be caused to assume any'oneof its three posit-ions and be held at rest in that position.

It must now be seen that I have designed a semaphore operating mechanism means of'which a semaphore is moved from its biased position to an operated position through est nca the intermediary of reduction gearing, in which each gear revolves upon its own axis during a movement of the semaphore toan operated position but in .which the reduction gearing moves as a whole when the semaphore moves to its biased position.

The reduction gearing being efiective upon movement of the semaphore to its operatingposition permits the use of a low torque motor, which is very desirable in semaphore signal operating mechanisms.

With a. large gear reduction, however, a small force exertedat the gear 19, due to friction of the brushes of the motor and the like, might be sutficient to prevent-a backward rotationot this gear on its axisdue to the bias of the semaphore, but since this inventionprovides a' means 'for permitting the semaphore toreturn to its biased position without rotating the individual gears of the reduction gearing, but rather with a movement of the reduction gearing as a whole, it can be seen that no tears need be entertained evenwith alarge gear reduction, that thesemaphorewill fail to return to its biased position when released.

Although I have particularly described theconstruction of one physical embodiment of my inventionyand explained the operation and principle thereof; nevertheless, I desire to have it understood that the form selected is merely illustrative, but does not exhaust the possible physicalembodiments of the idea. of means underlying my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In an electric signal mechanism, in combination: a semaphore having an operated position and a biased position; power operatedmeans for actuating thesaid semaphore to its operated position; and means including reduction gearing for operatively connecting said semaphore and said power operated means'upon energization of the lat ter to move the semaphore to its operated position, said means acting upon movement of the semaphore to its biased position to render the reduction gearing ineffective and to directly connect the semaphore and said power operating means.

2. In an electric signal mechanism, in combination: a semaphore ha-vingan operated position and a biased position; power operated means for actuating said semaphore; a train of gears adapted to connect said power operated means and the semaphore; and means for operatively connecting said semaphore to said power operated means through the intermediary of said train of gears when said power operated means drives the semaphore to its operated position and for causing the train of gears to be moved as a unit without relative to its biased position.

movement upon movement of the semaphore 3. In an electric signal mechanism, in combination: a semaphore having an operated position and a biased position; a source of current; an electric motor; a train of gears connecting the motor'and the semaphore; and means for causing each gear of said train to revolve on its axis by the energization of the motor by the source of current for moving the semaphore to an operated position, and for causing the train of gears to be moved as a unit Without relative movement by movement of the semaphore due to its bias, said means also acting to hold thesemaphore in its operated position.

4. In an electric signal mechanism, in.

combination: a semaphore having an operated position and a biased'position: a motor for operating said semaphore; and means including reduction gearing for connecting said motor and said semaphore, said means acting automatically to connect said motor and said semaphore through the reduction gearing when the motor moves the semaphore to anoperated position and also act- 'ing automatically to directly connectsaid, motor and said semaphore when the latter moves in response to its bias.

5. In an electric signal mechanism, in combination: a semaphore; a motor; and means including reduction gearing for operatively connecting said motor and said semaphore for the same angle of movement when the semaphore assumes its biased position and for establishing such operative connection for an increased angle of movement of the motor relative to the angle'of movement of the semaphore when the motor is energized to move the semaphore to its operated position. 7

6. In an electric signal mechanism, in combination: a semaphore having an operated position and a biased position; a motor for operating the semaphore; a rotatable member; reduction gearing carried by said member and operatively connecting said motor and said semaphore; and means for directly connecting said member to said motor when said semaphore moves from its operated position to its biased position.

7 In an electric signal mechanism, in combination: a semaphore having an operated position and a biased position; a shaft connected to said semaphore; a motor for operating said shaft; a shaft connected to said motor; a rotatable member; reduction gearing carried by said member and operatively connecting said motor shaft and said semaphore shaft; means for permitting rotation of said member relative to said motor shaft in one direction and preventing such rotation in the opposite direction; and electromagnetic means for holding said member against movement.

8. In an electric signal mechanism, in combination: a semaphore having an oper-' ated position and a biased positlon; an electric motor for operating said semaphore; a

rotatable member; reduction gearing carried by said member and operatively connecting said motor and said semaphore; means for permitting rotation of sald member relative to said semaphore in one direction and preventing such rotation in the opposite direction; electromagnetic means for holdlng sa1d member against rotation; and means for simultaneously supplying current to said erating circuit for said motor; an energizing circuit for said electromagnetic means; and circuit controlling means governed by said semaphore for simultaneously closing said circuits and for interrupting said operating circuit before said energizing circuit.

10. In an electric signal mechanism, in combination: a semaphore having a biased position and an operated position; gear; Wheels connected to said semaphore; a motor connected to the gear Wheels for causing the semaphore to assume its operated position; and means for causing the motor to drive the semaphore to its operated position through said gear Wheels and also causing the semaphore to drive the motor directly during movement of the semaphore toward its biased position. 1

11. In an electric signal .mechanism, in combination: a semaphore having a biased position and an operated position; a motor for causing the semaphore to assume its operated position; a shaft connected to the motor; a. shaft connected to the semaphore; a train of gear Wheels having one end Wheel connected to the shaft of the motor and its other end Wheel connected to the shaft of the semaphore; a rotatable member; means for connecting the shaft of the motor and said member when the semaphore is assuming its biased position; the intermediate gear Wheels in said train being operably mounted on said member and being movable 1 therewith; and means for holding said .ro-

tatable member from turning.

12. In an electric signal mechanism, in combination: a semaphore having a biased and an operated position; a shaft connected to said semaphore; a gear operatively connected to said shaft; a motor for operating said semaphore; a shaft driven bysaid motor; atsecond gear secured to said motor shaft; a rotatable member; reduction gearing mounted ,on said rotatable member and combination; a semaphore hayingvan operated position and a biased position; a motor; a connection for operatively connecting said motor and said semaphore when the semaphore moves inseither' direction; said connection including reductions gearings and op cratingautomatically according tothe direction of movement of the semaphore. to ,connect said semaphore and said motor either directlyor through said reduction gearing.

14.1111 an electric signal mechanism, in combination a semaphore ha ving an operated position and abiased position; power per d means f ac ating i ema- Gopies of this patent maybe obtained for five centseaeh, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

15, In an electric. signal mechanism,v in

combination: a semaphore having an operated position and a biased position; a motor for operating. said semaphore; means for holding said semaphore in its operated gposi tion; and means including reduction gearingfor connecting said motor and, said semaphore, said means acting automatically to connectthe motor and the semaphore through the reduction agents when the semaphore is moved to an operated position and;

also,v actingautomatically; to directly connect SZLlCl lnOtOlltUlCl sa d semaphore when the latter mores nresponse to its bias.

GERRET REKERS.

Washington, new 

